Annunciator-signal for telephone systems



(No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 1.

W.v P. SMITH. ANNUNUIATOR SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS..

No. 581,044. PgtentedApr. 20. 1897.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

y W. P. SMITH. ANNUNCIATOR SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

No. 581,044. PatentedApr. zo. 1897.

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I(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. I'. SMITH. ANNUNGIATOR SIGNAL P03 TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

10.581,044. f PatentedAp-r. 20,1897.

(No Modem W. F.- SMITH.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ANNUNGIATOR SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

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man mens WILLIAM FREDERICK SMITH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ANNUNClATOR-SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,044, dated April20, 1897'.

Application led August 4,1894. Renewed March S, 1897. Serial No.626,547. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FREDERICK SMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSubscribers Individual Calling and Clearing-Out Signals for TelephoneSystems, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in means for calling the operatorat a central office or switching-station from a subscribers station on atelephone-line; 'and the improvements embrace certain means andmechanism of novel construction for signaling the operator andregistering at the station-switchboard the number of the telephone withwhich the subscriber desires to connect his telephone for conversation;also, means and mechanism of novel construction operating electricallyfrom the subscribcrs station two or more nulnber-bearin g orregister-wheels at the station-switchboard to set the said wheels indifferent positions, and thereby register the character, by which theregister mechanism l is actuated. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, onan enlarged scale, on the line a: x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section,also enlarged, this section being taken on the line m y, Fig. 2. Figui:lis a top view ofa portion ofthe case with the top cover broken away toexpose parts beneath it. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of oneA of thesliding buttons and its contactplate within the case. Figs. 5n and 5bare diagrams designed to illustrate the two positions of thecircuit-closing rocker-plate of the signal-transmitting mechanism. Fig.5 illustrates the position of the tilting contact- 25 number of anothertelephone in the system plate when pulsations of itspositive currentwith which connection is desired; also, means' from the battery at thesubscribers station of novel construction operative from the subarebeing transmitted over the line; and Fig. scribers station to restoreall the number- 5b illustrates the opposite position,into which 8obearing wheels to their normal position, disthe same contact-plate isthrown when the 3o playing no numbers at the switchboard, as negativecurrent is sent over the line. Fig. soon as the conversation has ceasedand the 6 is a view of the register mechanism in side line is ready tobe cleared. elevation with the inclosing case shown in The generalobject of these improvements section. Fig. 7 is a top view of the same.85 is to provide at the station for every sub- Fig. 8 is a View of thefront end of the regis- 3 5 scribers line an individualcalling-register, ter as it appears when viewed from the front operativeby pulsations of the electric current of the switchboard. Fig. 9 is avertical crossfrom the subscribers telephone in such mansection at theline y y, Fig. 7. Figs. 10, 1l, ner that the subscriber calls theoperator at and 12 represent some parts of the mechan- 9o the stationbysetting the register to indicate ism in detail. Fig. 13 is a side viewof the 4o and display at the switchboard the number relays and thepawl-and-ratchet mechanism of the telephone with which the subscriberoperated by them. Fig. 14 is a side elevadesires connection, therebydispensing with tion in detail of the number-bearing wheel allconversation between the subscriber and and the connected gears, showingthe posithe operator over the line and substituting a tion of themechanism when there is no sig- 45 visual signal and register in placeof the oral nal displayed. Fig. 15 is a similar View of communicationwith the operator heretofore the same parts in the position they occupyrequired to make known at the station the when registering atelephone-number. Fig. num ber of the subscriber called for. 16 is aview of the revolving barrel in another 1o@ The following descriptionexplains the naposition from that shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17

5o ture of my said improvements and the manis a section through one ofthe register-wheels.

ner in which I proceed to construct and produce and apply and operatethe same, refer- Fig. 18 is a top view of the hinged plate and its pawlthat lock the register-wheels. Fig.

l0 is a perspective ofthe two pawls that operate and control the barrel.Figs. 20, 2l, and l are details of the star-wheel, its shaft, and

ta-ppets that lock the segment-gears in the'- barrel. Fig. 23 is adiagram representing the positive and negative circuits of thenal-sending device.

That part of the apparatus which is located at the subscriber-s stationcomprises a number of circuit making and breaking buttons or slidesconnected into the subscribers circuit between the local battery and theline, or otherwise interposed in the circuit in such manner thatelectric pulsations of both positive and negative character are producedand transmitted over the line to a main ofiice or switching-station bythe movements of the slides, the polarity of the pulsations produced byany one of the slides being determined by the direct-ion in which theslide is moved. lly such pulsations of the electric current thereceiving or registering mechanism located at. the switching-station isoperated from the subscribers station. This last-mentioned part. ot' thecomplete apparatus is composed, essentially, of several register wheelsarranged for independent rotation on a common center behind asight-opening in the switchboard and mechanism constructed to set thewheels in position for displaying at the sight-opening any given numberby the action of a current of one polarity and to restore the parts totheir tirst position again ready for another signal by the action of areverse current. Through this mechanism situated at the switchboard thesubscriber registers and makes known to the operator by a visual signalthe number of the subscribers line with which connection forconversation is desired, and in like manner by the act of throwing oftthis signal or restoring the register-wheels to their first position thesignal for disconnecting the two lines is given to the operator when theconversation is ended and the line is ready to be cleared. This part ofthe whole apparatus, which I have termed the register meehz'tnism,performs the two-fold function of a visual signal to notify the operatorof a connection to be made and givingthe number of the telephone withwhich connection is desired and a elearing-out or disconnecting signalto inform the operator when the line is out of use. The construction ofthis register mechanism will be described first with reference to thedrawings, Figs. t5 tio 22, inclusive, and afterward in connection withthe mechanism lo ated at the subscribers station by which the registeris operated.

A indicates a case or box inelosing all the parts of the mechanism,having binding-posts (LX DX for the electric wires X Y, the former beingthe subscribers line and the latter the switchboard-line. A is asight-opening in the frontend of the case, and B l l B are wheels orcircular disks with broad rims, each wheel bearing on the surfacethereof the ten nu merals from O to .l, inclusive, and a blank spacebetween the iirst and last numerals, the same being equally spacedaround the eircum'ferenee of the wheel.

The register-wheels are centered on a common fixed shaft or spindle l torotate easily and independently and in such close relation to theaforesaid sight-opening that the numerals exposed to view can be readclearly from the front of the case, but the size ol the opening is soregulated that only one numeral on each wheel is exposed to view. Byproper rotation of one or more of them the fou r wheels are set to showat the opening A any telephone-number consisting of from one to fournumerals, or they are set to expose only the portions of their rims thatbear no numerals, which last-mentioned position is the normal one forall the wheels when the mechanism is set for operation. ln the presentillustration of these wheels the spaces bearing no numerals are markedwith an asterisk, and these are set into position at the sight-openingwhen the mechanism is ont of action and the line is not in use.

Each wheel l is moved on the shaft l in one direction, step by step, tobring a given nnmeral to view through the agency of a pawland-ratchetmechanism operated by the vibration ot' an armature connecting a set ofgears. Each wheel being moved in one direction by these parts is broughtback to its normal position after the required exposure of the numeralby the reaction of a coil-spring i), contained within the wheel,attached to the fixed shaft l and to the wheel that it is put in a stateot' tension by the previous rotation of the wheel.

C is a spring-drum or skeleton barrel set to rotate freely on astationary shaft il behind the shaft l. and composed mainly of twocircular heads t 5, united by a hollow axle 0, a 1'atchet-wlieel 7 onthe outer face of one head et, and a coil-spring` S within the samehead, properly connected to the fixed shat't and to the head to be putin tension by the rotation of the barrel in one direct-ion and by itsreaction to bring the same back to its first position.

l) l) are segment-gears loose on the hollow axle of the barrel, and L Eare intermediate spur-gears or idlers connecting the beforementionedgears with lantern-pinions t) on the register-wheels.

The toothed portion of each gear D is always in mesh with itsintermediate gear E, and the latter gear is always connected into thepinion 0, but the movement of the barrel C on its center produces nomovement of the said gears .D until they are locked in the barrel,because the said gears set normallyloose on the hollow axle. \Vhen oneis locked, however, so that it cannet turn on the hollow axle, it willrotate the gear E and turn its register-wheel whenever the barrel C isrotated, and the extent of such rotation is determined by the amount ofrotative movement of the barrel. by the vibrations of the armature GX ofa polarized relay G in the rear end of the case acting on aspring-controlled vibrating pawl 10, which in turn operatesV on theratchetwheel on the barrel C, and according to the number of vibrationsof the armature the barrel is rotated a greater or less distance.

The segment-gears are locked in the barrel by the mechanism, consistingof a shaft H with reduced journal portions h on the ends, set loosely inbearings 12 in the heads of the barrel, and a number of dogs 0r tappetsI I, one for each segment-gear, iixed on the shaft and set in line withthe gears D. Thev four tappets are set on the shaft H at points aroundthe circle at intervals apart corresponding to the intervals between theteeth or points of a star-wheel K on the outer end of the shaft; but thenumber of points of this wheel is greater by one than the tappets beforementioned, so that While three of the tappets on the shaft set at equaldistance apart there is a gap or double interval in the circle betweenthe first tappet I and the last tappet. This arrangement of the tappetsand the teeth of the starwheel will be understood from Figs. 9 to 12,inclusive, Sheet 2, and Figs. 20, 21, and 22, Sheet 3. The point of eachtappet when turned toward the axle of the gears will clear the smoothportion of the gear, but will contact with the iirst tooth as the barrelC is turned on its axis in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig.12, and thus it will carry around the gear as the barrel is rotated; butas the shaft H can assume no position in which more than one tappet at atime will engage a segment-gear in each rotation of the barrel it willbe seen that the three remaining gears are always loose and will give nomovement to theregister-wheels when one gear is locked in the barrel.

The first Yposition and starting-point of the barrel C is determined bya stop 13 on the rim of the head 5 and a iiXed stop 14 on the bottom ofthe case. From this point the barrel moves in the direction of thearrow, Figs. 5, '7, and 8, as the pawl 10 is vibrated. In every case,however, at the time of starting from' the position of rest the firsttappet l nearestv the left-hand end of the shaft H, sets in workingposition to engage the gear D beneath it, while the remaining tappetsstanding at different angles around the shaft clear the teeth of theremaining gears in the barrel, so that only the first gear D is movedand only the first register-wheel is turned. Preparatory to the neXtgear of the set D being locked in the barrel to set the secondregister-wheel, the barrel is thrown back to its starting-point, inwhich reverse movement This movement is producedregister-wheels are setin position to make up the required number at the sight-opening. Thestar-wheel K is turned the distance of one toothv at such reversemovement of the barrel by means of the stop 16, hinged at the top of thecase over the barrel by a joint that allows it to swing freely in onedirection, but to set rigidly in the opposite direction with its endstanding in the path of the star-wheel, the leading point of whichstrikes the stop as the barrel is turned, and thus moves the shaft H thedistance of one point of the star-wheel; but in the opposite movement ofthe barrel the stop 16 presents no resistance and the star-wheel passesit without being moved.

A clutch 17 on the head 5 of the barrel locks the star-wheel andprevents it from turning under the resistance offered to the tappets bythe gears on the aXle when the barrel is rotating. This clutch iscomposed of a flat spring set in a recess in the head 5 behind thestar-Wheel and secured at one end to the head, but detached at theopposite end, on which is a wedge-shaped plate or incline 18. On thebody of this spring, below the incline, a stop 19, projecting in thepath of the points on the star-wheel, prevents that wheel from turningas long as the spring stands out from the recess. When the springispressed back, however, its before-mentioned stop will clear thestar-wheel and allow it to be turned by this swinging stop 16, and thismovement of the spring is effected by the contact of the in* cline 1Swith the swing-stop 16 as the barrel turns back, at which time theincline, being in advance of the star-wheel, meets the swinging stop andis by it pressed back before the point of the star-wheel reaches it. Theposition of these parts at the time of such operation is shown in Fig.16.

As already mentioned, the register-wheels are turned and set by theoperation of the before-described barrel and its gears and are broughtback to position after each operation by the recoil of the inclosedspring in each wheel, at which time the registenwheels are held at restby the stops 36 37. This manner of operating the wheels thereforerequires locking means to hold each wheel after it is set and also areleasing means when the wheels are to be restored to their firstposition. For this purpose a number of pawls 2O are pivoted on the topedge of a hinged plate L in front of the wheels in line with the rims ofthe wheels, one pawl in front of each wheel `and in the path of thenotches formed in the rim between the number-bearing faces. The lowerend of the plate L is hinged at 21 to the front of the case, and on thispoint it drops backward and throws the whole set of pawls against therims of the wheels whenever itis released from its position against thefront plate of the case. In the last-mentioned position it is retainedbya hinged latch 22, piv- ICO` IIO

oted at the forward end in lugs 23 on the case,

and on that point movable in a vertical arc at the free outer end, sothat by throwing up that end of the latch the plate L is released andallowed to drop. On the bottom o1' the latch a shoulder 2t engages andholds that plate, and on the outer end of the latch a finger 25, looselypivoted and arranged to swing in one direction, but to stand rigid andoriginally in the opposite direction, depends in the path of a stop-pin2G on the side of t-he first or left-hand wheel of the set B. That pinprojecting in line with the end of the finger Q5 is brought against itat the first movement of that wheel, and b vlifting the latch it throwsdown the plate L and all the pawls into action upon the wheels, therebyholding such wheels against reverse movement while they are beingset.

The subsequent operation to release and restore the wheels is effectedby apawl 27, attached by one end to the left-hand side of the plate L,and from that point extending backward to and over the rim of the left-ha-n d head of the barrel C, at which end it is bent at a right angleto stand across the rim and in the path of the stop 13 on the rim. Therod is of such length and its free outer end is so placed with relationto the before-mentioned stop that bya fifth or additional rotation givento the barrel after the four register-wheels have been set the stop 13will be brought around beyond the bent end ot the rod, and in the returnmovement of the barrel the stop, striking the end of the rod, pushesback the hinged plate L to upright position, where it is caught and heldby the latch 22.

It should be noticed that the four preceding rotations ofthe barrel @,bywhich is meant the four successive forward and return rotative movementsthat set the four wheels B, are shorter in length than the fifthrotation, and in no one of the four movements of the barrel is the stop13 brought beyond the end of the rod; but only by the fifth rotativemovement is the head 5 carried around to that point where in the returnot' the barrel by the reaction of its coil-spring the stop 13 engagesand pushes back the rod. The position of the parts in that returnmovement is shown in Fig. 15.

The relays G i', each actuating an individual armature GX G2, areconnected with the two poles of a local battery at the switchboard insuch manner that the relay G is operative by impulses of a positivecurrent, and the relay G' is operative in like manner by impulses of anegative character from a local battery at the switchboard, theconnection being made by the wires N N P P, as indicated in the diagramFig. 2S. In these two circuits, in which are included the relays G G',there is interposed two polarized circuit-closers Z Z', the one, Z,responding to pulsations of a positive character and the other, Z', topulsations of opposite polarity as the same are transmitted over theline X from the subscribers station. Said polarized circuit-closers areconnected by the wire Y into the line X to the subscribers telephone,and at that station by the special mechanism which I shall now proceedto describe, the electric pulsations are transmitted over the line tothe polarized eircuit-closers in the local circuit at the switchboard inthe central station. By pulsations of a positive character the relaysactuate the lever l0 and the detent 28, as before described, and bynegative pulsations the armatures GX G2 reset those parts and releasethe barrel for the following operation. By these means theregister-wheels are set one after the other in regular order to form thesignal. The first one GX ot these relays operates the pawl 10, thatturns the ratchetwheel 7 on the barrel, and the second one G2 operatesthe det-ent 28,' that in one position locks the barrel and in anotherposition releases the barrel and allows it to return against the fixedstop'lt. The pawl and the detent are centered on the same shaft, butthey rock on it independently of each other. The armature G-X of thefirst relay sets under the arm on the hub of the lever that carries thepawl 10, and by the pulsations of the current the armature is attachedat one end to one pole of the magnet, while the opposite end throws upthe arm of the lever and depresses the opposite pawl-carrying end,thereby moving the ratchet-wheel 7 the distance of one tooth. The returnmovement of the lever when the current is broken is produced by thespring l5.

rlhe armature G2, actuated by the second relay, is set over and restsupon the arm of the detent 2S, so that when attracted to one pole of therelay the armature presses down that end of the detent and raises theopposite hooked end out of the teeth of the ratchetwheel. rlhecontrarymovement of the same armature allows the hooked end to drop intothe wheel and lock the barrel. Each relay, beingr polarized, isresponsive to currents of both polarities. In the case of the firstrelay G the pulsations of a positive current transmitted on the linewill cause that relay to attract the outer end of the armature GX andwork the lever 10, while in the second relay the same pulsations, actingon the outer end ot the second armature G2, will litt its inner end fromthe arm of' the detent and drop the hook 2S into the ratchet-wheel. Onthe other hand, a negative current, by attaching the inner ends of thetwo armatures to their respective relays, will set the lever l0 and thedetent 2S clear of the ratchet-wheel,and st-anding in that position whenthe current ceases that armature will allow the barrel to make thereturn movement against the fixed stop 14.

Referring to Figs. G, S, and 14C of the drawings, a hinged drop-plate A2will be noticed on the front of the case A directly over thesight-opening. The object ot' this plate is to call the attention of theoperator by the change in the position of the plate at the firstmovement of the mechanism to the signal being registered. It is hingedat a3 and is moved by a curved toe 3S on the hinged plate IOO IIO

L, acting against a similarly-shaped toe 39 on the end of the plate. 39,projecting inside the case behind the lines of the pivots, are soarranged that when the plate L is released from the latch 22 and dropsdown to lock the register-wheels it raises or tilts the plate A2 tostand at a greater angle above the horizontal, so that the number on thefront is presented more plainly7 to View, but in the opposite movementof the plate L the drop-plate returns toward the horizontal again. Bythese two different positions the drop-plate indicates to the operatorwhen a register is in action and when it is not in use. The number onthe front of the drop-plate is the telephone-number of the subscribersline to which the register is connected.

The calling device located at the subscribers telephone is composedprincipally of a number of sliding buttons m, each electrically andseparately connected into the subscribers line by a conducting-strip Tand a conducting-wire TX, a corresponding number ot' circuit-closingrocker-plates 29, and a local battery having wires or conductors @c yleading from its poles to the rockerplate. Each rocker-plate is pivotedat the ends in the inclosing case W, directly beneath the slot w in thecoverin which the sliding button works, and the top surface of therocker-plate is insulated from the bottom surface, so that one side orsurface forms a separate conductor from the other side. On the top sideand along one side of the line-pivots a number of standing projections31, fixed at intervals apart, form points of contact between that sideof the plate 29 and the slide M to which each button m is fixed, whileon the opposite side of the pivot, but on the same top side of theplate, a single long projection 32 forms the point of contact betweenthe slide and that side of the plate.

The slide M is always in electrical contact with the fixedconducting-strip T, but is not electrically connected with therocker-plate except by moving its button m in its slot, at which timeone or the other of the pivoted dogs 34 35 strikes the contact-points onthe top of the plate and causes it to tilt and rock on its pivots. Suchdogs are so attached to the ends of the slide M that they are loose andfree to swing on their pivots in one direction, but are rigid and standperpendicularly down from the slide when pressure is brought againstthem from the opposite direction, and one is thus set to work thereverse to the other, so that when the slide is moved downward in itsslot in the case the dog 34 is rigid, and by striking against theprojections 3l it tilts the rocker-plate 29, but the opposite dog 35,swinging loosely on its pivot, will not act on the projection 32 beneathit. In the upward or return movement of the slide, however, the dog 35becomes the rigid and active one, while the other dog 34 swingsloosely.The back of each dog is faced These two parts 38v pole of the batteryinto the conducting-stripY T and grounds7 the opposite pole.

It should be mentioned that the bottom side of the contact-plate 29,which is insulated from the top side, is permanently connected to aground V.

The wire fr from the positive pole of the local battery is arranged overthe top of the rocker-plate along the side opposite to the projections34, and the wire y from the negative pole is arranged in similar mannerover the side of the plate opposite to the long projection 35. From thewire @c a leg or branch is carried underneath the rocker-plate on thesame side of the pivot, and from the wire y a similar leg y is carriedbeneath the plate on the other side, the result of which arrangement isthat when one wire is in contact with the top surface of therocker-plate the wire from the opposite pole of the battery is then incontact with the bottom surface" of the rocker-plate, through which itis connected to a ground by the ground-wire from the pivot of therocker-plate, because, as before described, the top side of therockerplate is insulated from the bottom side. This operation will beunderstood by referring to Fig. 5 and the diagram Figs. 5ad and 5b, inwhich it will be seen that when the slide M is drawn down over the plate29 the dog 34c is caused to strike the projections 3l and as it passesover each projection to depress that side of the plate and throw up theopposite side. Such movements therefore, as each projection is struck,throw the top surface of the elevated side of the rockerplate in contactwith the positive wire a; and also the bottom surface of the depressedside in contact with the wire y from the negative side of the battery,and in this manner pulsations of a positive character are transmittedover the line X through the connections T TX, corresponding in number tothe number of projections which are struck by the moving slide M, andthe circuit from the battery at the switchboard is thrown upon therelays through the polarized circuitclosers Z Z in corresponding numberof vibrations. Fig. 5b illustrates the position of the rocker-plate atsuch time of action. The return movement of the button back to thesliding-point tilts the rocker-plate into the opposite direction, asillustrated in Fig. 5u, thereby causing the upper side of the plate tomake contact with the negative wire y from IOO the battery and groundingthe wire n: from the positive side through the under side of therocker-plate and the ground Y, and iu such manner reversing the polarityof the current from the local battery over the line. From thislast-mentioned movement et the button in its slot the dog 35 actsagainst the long projection 232 on the rocker-plate, and by pressingdown that side it elevat es the opposite side, holding it up against thewire y and pressing down the lower tace ot the rocker-plate against theleg fc of the wire ai.

Each sliding button when moved in its slot in one direction produces, bycontact with the projections 3l on the rocker-plate beneath, as manyelectric pulsations of one polarity as there are projections in the rowon that side of the rocker-plate. Then moved back to position ot rest atthe end of the slot, the same button produces one single long pulsationof opposite polarity corresponding to the length ofthe projection on therocker-plate. By the currents thus transmitted to the polarized relays ZZ, before described, with which the signal mechanism at the switchboardis in circuit, the lever 1t) and detent 2S are actuated tirst by thecurrent of one polarity to set the register-wheel and afterward bytheeurrent ot the opposite polarity to reset the parts` of the mechanismready .tor the next setting` movement. Thus the barrel C is rotated andthen reversed and set in position again tor the next movement by thesimple sliding movement of the button along its slot from one end to theother and back again to the starting-point, as already described. Inthis operation the two currents ot dit'tferent polarities thrown uponthe polarized relays by each button turn and set the register-wheelsaccording to the order in which the buttons are selected and moved bythe person sending in the signal, and the number ot figures composingthe signal to be shown at the sightaperture of the station-switchboarddetermines the number ot buttons to be moved and the order in which theycan be operated.

Every sliding button produces electric pulsations ot' one polarity innumber corresponding to the number of projections 3l on its rocker-platewhen moved in one direction, and a single long pnlsation ot oppositepolarity when moved back to its tirst position, and by the currents thustransn'litted tothe polarized relays Z Z, with which the signalmechanism at the switchboard is in circuit, the lever l0 and detent 28are actuated, as before described, to rotate the barrel C and then toreverse and reset it, such two ditterent currents being produced by eachindividual button, and according` to the order in which the same aremoved the barrel moves and sets tbe register-wheels to show the desiredsignalnnmber at the sight-aperture.

All the positive wires n; are connected to the common binding-post X2and all the negative wires yy to the post Y2. To these posts areconnected the conductors X: Ys from the battery Z, Fig. 23.

The strips 'l 'll are connected to a com mon binding-post T' on thecase, and the wire TX, Fig. l, from the line X is connected to thatpost. In like manner all the groiuid-wires are brought to a commonbinding-post V', to which is connected the ground Y.

The eleventh slide-button in the case which I have termed thedisconnecting-button,7 sends over the line the required nu mber ofpulsations to turn the barrel C such farther distance on its axis thatit throws ott the hinged plate li. and thereby releases all theregister-wheels. 'lhus after the conversation over the line is ended andthe subscriber desires to be disconnected he moves thedisconnecting-slide M X to the end of the slot and allows its spring tothrow it back again, the effect of which is to release all theregister-wheels composing the signal and restore them to position again'tor subsequent operation.

As thus constructed, arranged, and connected the whole apparatusoperates as follows to transmit from a-subscribe1"s telephone to theoperator a visual signal showing the number of the telephone with whichconnection is desired and also at the end ot' lthe conversation tosignal the operator for disconnection: ]Sy that one ot the slides firstmoved in the case \V the subscriber sends over the line positivepulsations, which, aeting on the polarized circuit-closets Z Z, throwthe positive side of the battery at the switchboard upon the relays andcausing their armatures to iirst throw down the detent 28 and then workthe pawl l0 to turn the barrel as many teeth ot the ratchet-wheel asthere are vibrations of the armature given. 'lhe Irst segment-gear Dbeing locked in the barrel by the tappet I, which sets in line with it',the iirst register-wheel is turned and set in position by the movementot the gear D. At the return movement et' the slide produced by thespring when released by the subscriber the current is reversed and asingle pulsation from the opposite pole of the battery is produced, thceffect of which Yis to tilt the armatures of the relays into their trstposition and thereby throw out both the pawl and the detent from theratchet and release the barrel. The spiral spring in the barrel thenbrings it back to position against the tixed stop l-t, ready 'for thenext operation. In this return movement the incline lS on the clutch 17strikes the hinged stop 1G, by which the star-wheel K is released, andits leading point, engaging the same stop, turns that wheel the distanceof one point and bysueh movement sets the second tappet on the shaft llin line and working position with the second segment-gear on the barrel.In the same mauner the next slide M when drawn down operates the barreland sets the second registerwheel, and when. moved back in its slot itresets the parts for the next operation. All

IOO

IIO

the four register-wheels are thus operated on and set in position toform the required signal-number.

It should here be mentioned that in every case of setting a signal ofless than four numerals it is necessary to move all the register-wheels,because the first wheel to the left is always connected into the barrelwhen the ,mechanism is set for service and also because the fourth orlast wheelmust be operated before the long rotation of the barrel can begiven to release and throw back all the wheels for thedisconnecting-signal. On this account a signal-number composed of twonumerals will be formed of two ciphers, followed by the requirednumerals, and in producing the same the first and second registerwheelswill be set to show 0 and then the remaining third and fourth wheels todisplay the proper numbers to form the signal.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

sl. A register mechanism for telephonelines, comprising register-wheelsarranged behind a sight-opening at a switchboard; a rotating barrelcarrying loose gears, one to each register-wheel, and connected to it byintermediate gearing, means for locking said loose gears separately andin successive order at the beginning of each rotative movement of thebarrel and means for releasing each locked gear at the end of eachrotative movement before the next one of said gears is locked; meansactuated by pulsations of an electric current to rotate said barrel stepby step a predetermined distance to set the registerwheels; and meansfor releasing said barrel at the end of each setting movement, and aspring arranged to rest-ore the barrel to its rst position, combined foroperation substantially as set forth.

2. In a register mechanism for telephonelines the combination, in asuitable case behind a sight-opening of the register-wheels B;spring-barrel C; gears D each connected into its individualregister-wheel; the shaft II, star-wheel K, tappet I, hinged stop I6,clutch 17 and stops 13 14; the ratchet-wheel 7, pawl IO, detent 28 andspring l5; and means for operating said pawl and detent by pulsations ofelectric currents of different polarities, substantially as set forth.

3. In a register mechanism the spring-barrel C, loose gears I), shaft H,tappets I, starwheel K, hinged stop 16; and the stops I3, 14; theratchet-wheel 7, pawl IO and detent 28; and means for operating saidpawl and detent consisting of the polarized relays G G and armatures GG2 combined for operation substantially as set forth.

4. In a register mechanism the combination, of the spring-barrel C,loose gears I), shaft II, tappets I, star-wheel K and hinged stop 16;means for rotating said barrel step by step in one direction andafterward releasing it and allowing it to return to its starting-pointby the reaction of its spring; and the stops 18 14 controlling suchstartingpoint, substantially as set forth.

5. In a register mechanism the combination, of register-wheels B,coil-sprin gs 2, locking-plate L, dogs 20, latch 22 and push-rod 27; therotating barrel C and gears connecting the register-wheels separatelyand independently with said barrel means for lookin g said gearsseparately and in successive order in said barrel; stops 13 I4controlling the starting-point of the barrel and also operating thepush-rod; and means for rotating said barrel step by step and forreleasing it to its starting-point, substantially as set forth.

6. A switchboard register for telephone systems, comprisingregister-wheels arranged behind a sight-opening; pawl-and-ratchetmechanism actuating said register wheels separately and in successiveorder; a locking mechanism holding said wheels in position andcoil-springs adapted by their recoil to restore said wheels to normalposition when released; polarized relays actuating through electricpulsations of one polarity the pawland ratchet mechanism, and operatingthrough pulsations of the opposite polarity on the said lockingmechanism to release the register-wheels; in combination with a localcircuit including a battery and a current-reversing circuit-closer atthe snbscribers station connected with or into the polarized relays ofthe switchboard mechanism through the subscribers line and transmittingelectric pulsations to said mechanism, constructed for operationsubstantially as set forth.

7. In a subscribers register for telephonelines the combination, withregister-wheels having coil-springs which are adapted to reset thewheels to the starting-point after each setting movement, of the stops36 37, hinged plate L, pawls 20, latch 22, stop 26, push-rod 27, stop 14and the hinged drop A2 arranged for operation at a sight-opening as setforth.

8. The combination, with an electricallyactuated register mechanism at aswitchboard, of the circuit making and breaking and current-reversingmechanism located at the subscribers station comprising the slotted caseW, the separately-operating slides M one for each of the ten digits andeach slide having an increased length of stroke over the next 011e inascending order, individual contact-plates 29 each movable under thecontact with it of the corresponding slide and normally connected to aground; the conductors x y arranged on opposite sides of said plate, andone of which by the movement of said plate is brought in contact withthat piece under the stroke of its slide M downward, and the other oneof which is brought into contact with said plate under the upwardmovement of the slide, thereby reversing the polarity of the current;the conductor rI connected with t-he subscribers line and electricallyconnected with all the slides; and the disconnecting-slide M having alength of IIO IZO

stroke greater than the last.` slide, constructed and arranged foroperation substantially als set forth.

f). The Combination willi a visual signal at the switeliboard-s'ationComposed of nuinberbearing Wheels, mechanism operative under electricpulsations of both polarities to oper' ate said wheels, a loeal eirouitand battery including polarized eiieuit-Closers in the eireuit betweenthe subseribers telephone and lille switehboard-stalion and operativeunder pulsations transmitted over the subseribers line, ofcircuit-Closing deviees at ilie subscribers telephone, a local circuitincluding Osnonx,

